As it turns out, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan envisioned Vaccaro in a rover role, lining up at multiple positions.

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Ryan said, via NFL Media's Jeff Darlington on Friday's edition of NFL Network's "Around the League Live," that this is the most he's ever "put on a rookie's plate" in his 10 years as an NFL defensive coordinator.

According to ESPN.com's Mike Triplett, Vaccaro already has lined up as a deep safety, an in-the-box safety, a nickel back in the slot, a cornerback on the outside, an inside linebacker and an outside linebacker in Ryan's various formations.

"I think I've played every position except for D-tackle and D-end. Well, sometimes I line up there and blitz," Vaccaro said this week. "They really use me in every way. And I think Rob's scheme fits perfect. Because a 220-pound nickel-slash-corner-slash-linebacker-slash-outside linebacker, I think it works in this scheme."

Vaccaro isn't quite as athletically gifted as a young Troy Polamalu, but Ryan is using him in a similar fashion as a movable chess piece.

Now that the Atlanta Falcons are losing key starters at the rate of more than one per week, the Saints are re-emerging as favorites in the NFC South. If the defense continues to hold opponents to fewer than 20 points, they might even run away with the division crown.